Passion, fresh eyes and lasagna: New AVP finds place at UHCL

In the late afternoon, a visitor to the Dean of Students office might hear the opening chords of Dua Lipa and Megan Thee Stallion or Bruno Mars.  

Even administrators feel exhausted toward the end of the day, and Yvonne Hernandez Friedman admits that she saves her upbeat music – ranging from Dua Lipa, Megan Thee Stallion and Bruno Mars, to grunge bands, Latin and reggae, and 80s rock – for her afternoon pick-me-up. 

Hernandez Friedman spent the past three months adjusting to her new home at UHCL as the Assistant Vice President of Student Engagement, the first to occupy this position. 

Prior to her arrival at UHCL on March 29, Hernandez Friedman served as the associate director of residential success and community development at the University of California San Diego.

As she works to establish her presence on campus with both faculty, students and staff, the former California resident is making it clear she prefers to be called “Dr. Y.” 

“It’s just easier,” she said. “It can get tedious for students to say ‘Hello, Dr. Hernandez Friedman!’”

A first-generation college student and Arizona native, Hernandez Friedman received her bachelor’s degree in political science and her master’s in higher and postsecondary education from Arizona State University. She earned her doctorate in education from Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, California. 

The new AVP finds social justice work and educational equity to be where her specialties of education and political science intersect. 

“As a woman of color, I need to understand the system I’m operating in so that I can properly advocate for my needs, the needs of my community and the needs of our students,” Hernandez Friedman said. “Originally I went to school for political science because I wanted to work for a congressperson and work on campaigns and to eventually become a lawyer.” 

Hernandez Friedman’s experience in the real world gained from several undergraduate internships with congresspersons and a year working for a nonprofit helped her realize her desire to work in education.

“I then started my master’s in higher and postsecondary education,” she said. “I enjoy education, because I can make an impact and provide a path for first-generation students like myself.”

Hernandez Friedman added that being a first-generation college student – as well as UHCL’s mission, its population of first-generation college students and students of color, and its status as a Hispanic Serving Institution – drew her to UHCL and the suburbs of Houston.

“I have been in California for 20 years now, so I definitely wanted a change of pace,” she said. “I saw the university and the opportunity I had to shape a student experience…

“My primary objective is to fulfill the mission and vision of student affairs, which involves the four pillars of student engagement, and that means offering students opportunities to feel a part of campus and engaged on campus so they can fulfill their academic potential. Those opportunities include leadership programs, opportunities to serve the community, helping students to find the right internship so they can fulfill their career goals and helping students be leaders on campus.”

Hernandez Friedman believes having a fresh pair of eyes to look at UHCL’s programs is what will set her apart from others in similar positions.

“I don’t come into a new job to revamp things,” she said. “I come in to observe and see how I can enhance things. Sometimes that means creating something new, but I think that is one of the best parts of bringing in someone new, which is having a fresh set of eyes.” 

While Houston and California have similar climates, Hernandez Friedman admits to missing one staple of Southern California culture.

“It’s been an interesting transition as I’m fully grasping being in a place where weather is a thing,” she said. “A very important one, obviously, because it affects a lot. Southern California doesn’t deal with much weather. I’ve enjoyed living in the Clear Lake area; everyone I’ve encountered has been very nice. It’s a great little pocket to live in, but still close to a major metropolitan city, which is nice. I see this area as a city with a small town feel. No Trader Joes around here, though. That makes me sad. I go on their website daily to request one.”

Food plays more than just a sustaining role in Hernandez Friedman’s life – she spends her free time volunteering with the nonprofit organization Lasagna Love.

“I make lasagnas in my home and deliver them to people with food insecurities, help moms who need a break from cooking, and also to help families of first responders to get a hot meal at home,” she said. “It’s been fun to do and a great way to involve my son, Mason. He is my junior chef.”

Hernandez Friedman balances her social services with more solo leisures like keeping up with her physical and mental health, meditating regularly and working out on her Peloton. Her tastes in television are unexpected.

“Whenever I see ‘Legally Blond’ on TV, I’ll always stop to watch it,” she said. “I watch mostly shows, because that is as long as my attention span is these days. I enjoy reality TV. I like ‘Top Chef,’ ‘Hell’s Kitchen,’ anything on HGTV, and anything ‘Real Housewives.’  I also really liked ‘Bridgerton.’”

While lately she has been reading leadership development books, Hernandez Friedman enjoys reading period pieces, particularly those that take place in the 1920s and 1930s, like “A Gentleman in Moscow.”

When she’s not watching reality TV or getting lost in a good book, Hernandez Friedman reflects on her previous institution, noting the biggest difference between UHCL and her previous university is the size.

“I came from large universities, [with] 30,000 students,” Hernandez Friedman said. “I like the size of this university because it is an opportunity to provide students with a more personalized experience and that is great.”

Aaron Hart, vice president of student affairs, sees Hernandez Friedman as fitting right in with the university’s new Four Pillars of Student Engagement initiative.

“Words can’t express how excited we are for our students to have Dr. Hernandez Friedman here,” Hart said. “It’s rare to find a student affairs professional with her depth and breadth of experience and leadership who is so committed to student success. The Student Engagement portfolio is charged with providing the highest-quality student programs and transformational leadership opportunities for our students. Dr. Hernandez Friedman will take our outstanding programs and initiatives to new heights and beyond.”

Becoming a mentor to students on campus excites Hernandez Friedman.

“It’s the most exciting part of this, which is the opportunity for me as a professional to give back,” Hernandez Friedman said. “I think we can all think of someone during our time in college who lent a hand, whether it was being a mentor or even helping us with financial aid. That is what is most exciting, which is to give back and be a mentor like many were for me during my undergraduate, graduate and when I was going for my doctorate. We need mentorship all the way through.”